Morbidity and Mortality of Inpatients in the Department of Infectious Diseases of the University Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Background: Infectious Diseases are responsible for nearly 17 million annual deaths worldwide. Burkina Faso, like the majority of poor countries, remains vulnerable to infectious diseases. The objective of the present study was to analyze the profile of inpatients, including the mortality and causes of death, in the Infectious Diseases Department of Sourô Sanou teaching hospital (Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso). Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study based on medical records of all inpatients from 2011 to 2015. Results: We included 1169 patients. The gender ratio was 0.8. The age group 30 to 39 was more represented (30.2%) as well as housewives and farmers (73.7%). Over one-thirds of the patients (35.3%) were consulted within an average of 7 days. The most common reason for consultation was fever (65.1%). Around 62.0% of inpatients were infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Digestive diseases ranked first (21.8%) followed by nervous system disorders (19.4%) and tuberculosis (17.8%). Overall morbidity rate was 31.3%. About 42% were admitted to the emergency ward while 83.3% already arrived with poor health condition. And 82.1% of deaths occurred on pathological grounds of which 66.7% were related to HIV. Main causes of death included nervous system diseases (28.6%), tuberculosis (21.9%) and gastrointestinal diseases (18.3%). Conclusion: Infectious diseases remain a major public health issue. Further efforts are needed to improve their management in Burkina Faso.